Rocky Long

[JarHeadJim]

So...are we getting Rocky or not?
Yes or no answer please.

BOOM!

 

[orangepassion]

Got to be honest. The lack of recruiting bothers me. We really need to increase our competencies there.

It bothers me a drop (though I'm sure he has some good contacts), but he's an elite DC and when you get a chance to get that, you have to go for it.

 

[orangepassion]

doesn't fit what Rocky seemingly wants to do. he has said many times that head coaching has so many headaches, he would just love to focus on being a coordinator. even on an interim basis, taking over head coaching duties at a football factory doesn't make any sense.

This was them throwing out a scenario to him. I don't know that he'd want to do that, but HC at USC is different than HC at SDSU.

 

[Cusefan69]

BOOM!

Nice.

 

[PhatOrange]

Recruiting’s not been an issue on the defensive side, and his scheme would attract DT’s and linebackers compared to our current.

I think recruiters attract players more than the schemes do so I share the same concern. The 2nd hire would have to be a homerun recruiter imo.

Rocky did say however he wants to be a DC and recruit. So there is that and I guess we're all assuming he can't recruit because he's 70.

 

[PhatOrange]

Not that it matters but I thought he was pretty much on record saying he doesn't want to be a HC.

 

[djorange1989]

This was them throwing out a scenario to him. I don't know that he'd want to do that, but HC at USC is different than HC at SDSU.

it is different as in way way more headaches, not even close, which is why the scenario(yep, I did know they were throwing that out there) just doesn't make sense.

 

[RMH44]

It bothers me a drop (though I'm sure he has some good contacts), but he's an elite DC and when you get a chance to get that, you have to go for it.

Agreed...and where is it written that he's not a good recruiter? Just because he doesn't like all the "headaches" of being a HC doesn't mean he can't or won't recruit.

He's had some really good players pas through SDSU. Obviously, he has the ability to connect with recruits or they wouldn't of had so much success.

 

[SmilinBob]

They may just be waiting to announce or is it possible that Rocky wants to bring X amount of guys with him and may want Y out at SU and Dino may be hesitating or figuring out the logistics?

 

[djorange1989]

It bothers me a drop (though I'm sure he has some good contacts), but he's an elite DC and when you get a chance to get that, you have to go for it.

yeah, it has been stated many times, Syracuse needs to upgrade recruiting, but they need to upgrade that via position coaches. a defensive coordinator's job is to coach the defense. someone as good as Rocky in particular, you don't care, and for any good coordinator, you don't care. you get rid of stiffs like Martin who haven't done a damn thing with recruiting, you don't cross a coordinator off your list if he isn't a great recruiter

 

[djorange1989]

Agreed...and where is it written that he's not a good recruiter? Just because he doesn't like all the "headaches" of being a HC doesn't mean he can't or won't recruit.

He's had some really good players pas through SDSU. Obviously, he has the ability to connect with recruits or they wouldn't of had so much success.

he wins, and wins consistently. that gets good players to come on board

 

[JRHEETER]

I would think...and this is just a theory...

that with no announcement being made so far about our DC and Rocky Long not taking a position yet...that it is looking decent for us.

Would assume if Rocky told us to kick rocks, we would have a DC named now instead of him

 

[RMH44]

he wins, and wins consistently. that gets good players to come on board

Chicken or egg? Whether he acts as "the closer" during official visits or is called in on selected home visits, apparently recruits like him (and his system) enough to sign on the dotted line.

 

[CTcusefan]

yeah, it has been stated many times, Syracuse needs to upgrade recruiting, but they need to upgrade that via position coaches. a defensive coordinator's job is to coach the defense. someone as good as Rocky in particular, you don't care, and for any good coordinator, you don't care. you get rid of stiffs like Martin who haven't done a damn thing with recruiting, you don't cross a coordinator off your list if he isn't a great recruiter

I totally agree with you. Your positional coaches are the ones that should be your best recruiters and the OC and DC have to be the best at scheming and calling plays. You should always hire the OC and DC based on running their side of the ball first.

 

[721Comstock]

yeah, it has been stated many times, Syracuse needs to upgrade recruiting, but they need to upgrade that via position coaches. a defensive coordinator's job is to coach the defense. someone as good as Rocky in particular, you don't care, and for any good coordinator, you don't care. you get rid of stiffs like Martin who haven't done a damn thing with recruiting, you don't cross a coordinator off your list if he isn't a great recruiter

THIS.

EIther you are good/great at recruiting - a la Swag Daddy,
OR
you are good/great at your day job - a la Lustig.

It's rare that somebody is BOTH, but they MUST be a LEAST ONE of those things.
Long is an elite DC. We need that, desperately.
Even if he's "just ok" at recruiting, it's still a massive net gain.

 

[CuseLegacy]

Funny, very funny, but oh so cruel!

Working on business and personal taxes can bring out the best in me.

 

[SU94]

THIS.

EIther you are good/great at recruiting - a la Swag Daddy,
OR
you are good/great at your day job - a la Lustig.

It's rare that somebody is BOTH, but they MUST be a LEAST ONE of those things.
Long is an elite DC. We need that, desperately.
Even if he's "just ok" at recruiting, it's still a massive net gain.

(not targeted toward you 721Comstock)
I just don't know where the idea came from that RL won't or cannot recruit. I've seen or read nothing to indicated that. Give him SoCal, Arizona and Vegas and set him loose. If we get 1-2 quality guys a year from those areas, we good/RL good. Also, SDSU is known for getting its players from JUCOs out west.

At present, I am most worried about Leach/Mississippi State.

 

[djorange1989]

ok, here is the timeline:

Sunday January 5th: Salem announces he is leaving, word comes out that McCloud is gone
Monday January 6th: Thamel and others report that Rocky in on campus at SU with Dino
From that point onward: this site has turned into The Wizard of Oz, flying monkeys included

 

[djorange1989]

(not targeted toward you 721Comstock)
I just don't know where the idea came from that RL won't or cannot recruit. I've seen or read nothing to indicated that. Give him SoCal, Arizona and Vegas and set him loose. If we get 1-2 quality guys a year from those areas, we good/RL good. Also, SDSU is known for getting its players from JUCOs out west.

At present, I am most worried about Leach/Mississippi State.

I think he certainly can recruit, just seems like something he does not relish doing at all at this point, he just wants to coach defense. and, we shouldn't give a rats posterior if he doesn't want to recruit

 

[007]

So...are we getting Rocky or not?
Yes or no answer please.

Do you really think that there are people here who could give you a simple yes or no answer but are holding out on you? Yes or no? Everyone here is just speculating. Some of us are not very good at it.

 

[Trueblue25]

Think our defensive recruiting's been solid with Monroe and Stanard. Our scheme makes it difficult to attract DT’s. We’ve recruited DB and DE very well, and are picking up solid LB’s each cycle (attrition and turnover has hurt us here).

I think dream scenario is Long’s hired as DC/AHC, naturally also netting out McCloud’s firing. Swag Daddy and Stanard are retained. Boller’s brought back to fill the now vacant recruitment role.

 

[orangemass]

So...are we getting Rocky or not?
Yes or no answer please.

pay side only

 

[blizz]

Think our defensive recruiting's been solid with Monroe and Stanard. Our scheme makes it difficult to attract DT’s. We’ve recruited DB and DE very well, and are picking up solid LB’s each cycle (attrition and turnover has hurt us here).

I think dream scenario is Long’s hired as DC/AHC, naturally also netting out McCloud’s firing. Swag Daddy and Stanard are retained. Boller’s brought back to fill the now vacant recruitment role.

I like the way you think buddy!

But this is incomplete.
Keep going...

 

[Ozone!]

HC's are the ultimate recruiters; closures, if you will. Let's hope that Rocky closes ln a decision to be our DC!

 

[SmilinBob]

Offering this to Long is a Dave Kingman type move. A horrible swing and miss in front of everybody or a 600 foot HR if he becomes the DC.